CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--With the recently availed consultancy services from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Cagayan de Oro’s famous Josephus Boneless Lechon acquires License to Operate (LTO) and expands business opportunities in the city.

The firm has recently been assisted by the agency in its application for the mandatory license from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is a continuous assistance under the Manufacturing Productivity Extension Program (MPEX).

The program helps the company write its manuals on good manufacturing practices and sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOP).These manuals are among the major requirements for the FDA-LTO application. The firm’s production facility has also been enhanced to be in compliance with the FDA’s standards and to boost efficiency in the working area.

DOST also provided free food safety training to the firm’s workforce.

Through the agency's SciTech SuperHighway program, the firm also unlocked the achievement of trademark registration for their company's logo.
Josephus Lechon Belly availed of the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) through DOST Misamis Oriental in 2021. The SETUP intervention mechanized the process of the firm through the acquisition of various equipment that streamlined the production of their lechon powder premixes, grilled lechon belly, and crispy pork rind, or what they fondly call "hinilisan."

In addition to the streamlined process, they have improved product quality, consistency, and competitiveness. The firm also availed of the moisture analysis of 9 samples and DOST ITDI packaging to improve their packaging for the lechon belly. With the S&T intervention, the firm is expected to improve its productivity by at least 4% and increase its production volume by at least 30%.

Joseph Khio and Susan Khio are the owners and operators of Josephus Lechon Belly, a family-run business that debuted in 2014.The couple expressed their gratitude to DOST for the generous assistance they received. They said through DOST, they felt the support of the government.

This kind of assistance could significantly improve and build the MSME sector in our economy. They wished for the government to invest significantly in DOST in order to broaden its reach and assist in the expansion of micro- and small-business enterprises, which are the backbone of the Philippine economy.(DOST-10/PIA-10)